A new look at the state charter school law could result in colleges and universities being able to approve charter schools, more accountability for charters and increased ability for such schools to occupy a district's unused buildings.

Both the majority and minority chairmen of the Senate Education Committee announced the plan to introduce legislation aimed at making the first comprehensive rewrite of the charter school law since it was passed in 1997. The legislation is expected to be introduced this month.

"In the 12 years since the law was initiated, we have learned what works and what does not work with the current law," said Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin. "We must make this public school choice option available to more families while putting more controls in place to prevent potential abuse."

Mr. Piccola said how much charter schools would grow would depend on the demand, but he said he views them as a way to replace failing schools and as a "very productive tool for educational accountability."

Sen. Andrew Dinniman, D-Chester, said, "Although the statute is working and charter school growth remains strong, it's important that we establish more checks to ensure these public school options are not tarnished."

Lawrence Jones Jr., president of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Charter Schools, said, "It seems like there's a really good opportunity to have dialogue around this and to strengthen Pennsylvania's law, which is already a pretty decent law."

The current law provides for school districts to approve charters, which are public schools run by their own boards. Students do not pay tuition, but school districts must pay a fee set by the state.

Linda Hippert, executive director of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, said the proposal does not address school district concerns about the economic impact of charters on districts and the services available for children who remain in district schools.

She recognized that parents want options, but she said legislators are responsible for providing proper funding.

"It is critical that they do not fail to look closely at the effect that these decisions have on the traditional public schools which were established to provide equity of opportunity for all children," Dr. Hippert said.

Mr. Piccola noted that the proposal calls for setting up a funding advisory committee to make recommendations to the Legislature, but he said financing methods aren't addressed in the proposed legislation.

"School districts, they're interested in preserving their turf. As a rule, they've been anti-charter from the beginning," he said. "You have to take their proposals with that in mind."

Over the years, some changes in the law have been made. Cyber charter schools, which serve students statewide, were not envisioned in the law and were initially approved by a single local district. Their charters now must be approved by the state.

In addition, the state began providing a partial reimbursement to school districts for the fees paid to charter schools.

Now charter schools are in the national forefront, with President Barack Obama calling on states to encourage the expansion of high-quality charter schools as a means of school reform. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has repeatedly stated the importance of openness to charter schools to states winning competitive federal dollars.

Jeremy Resnick, a founder and executive director of Propel Charter Schools, which operates five charter schools in Allegheny County, said the proposal is "a good step toward bringing Pennsylvania toward the national spirit of where things are."

Mr. Resnick thinks the proposed changes could lead to more good charter schools. "The goal isn't just more charter schools. The goal is more students in good schools. This will lead to that," he said.

Richard Wertheimer, founder, CEO and principal of City Charter High School, Downtown, noted the proposal continues state support, tightens up accountability and cleans up some problem areas, such as the length of charters and the appeals process.

The measure would provide for initial approval to cover five years, instead of three to five years, and allow renewals for 10-year-periods, instead of five years. It also would eliminate residents' signatures now needed for an appeal.

"I hope that this common-sense, supportive approach continues through the actual legislation," Dr. Wertheimer said.

Nick Trombetta, founder and CEO of Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, considers the two senators to be "strong advocates of charter schools," adding, "I think everyone in the charter school movement respects them and is very comfortable with the accountability measures and other reforms they propose."

The measure, for which Mr. Piccola and Mr. Dinniman are seeking co-sponsors, is a starting point, subject to hearings and debate. Some of the items are new; some provide clarification.

Among the provisions of the proposal are:

• Institutions of higher education could approve the creation of a charter school.

• Intermediate units and local school boards could create cyber charter schools.

• Charter schools within a school district would be able to use a school district's unused facilities through a negotiated memo of understanding.

• Enrollment at charter schools cannot be capped by the entity granting the charter.

• An office of charter and cyber charter schools in the state Department of Education will have oversight, including investigating complaints of fraud and mismanagement.

• All charter school administrators and board members would have to follow the standards in the state Ethics Act and a national charter school law model.

Pennsylvania has 132 charter schools, including11 cyber charter schools. Combined enrollment last year totaled more than 73,000.

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